After years of funneling some funds to MCPAWS, McCall's regional animal shelter, through that city's local option tax, the McCall city committee that oversees LOT funding requests now wants to completely cut off revenues to the shelter.

In spite of the fact that the city's law authorizing 3 percent the tax collected on hotel rooms, vacation rentals and campgrounds specifically mentions the animal shelter as a recipient, the McCall Local Option Tax Advisory Commission voted 4-2 to stop funding MCPAWS. Additionally, the commission recently voted to not approve LOT funds for McCall's Manchester Ice and Event Centre which says it needs the money to renovate the rink's ice-making machine.

This week's McCall Star-News reports that the LOT advisory commission made the austere recommendations after getting direction from the McCall City Council that the local option funds should be primarily used to repay the city for high-profile celebrations such as the 4th of July and the city's winter carnival. But McCall City Councilman Bob Giles says he's "troubled" by the proposed cuts, according to the Star-News. The council is expected to take up the issue during a budget workshop on Friday, July 17.